I was born in Vasto, a picturesque seaside town in Abruzzo, Italy, renowned for its delectable fish soup – celebrated by many, although not by me, as I tend to avoid Lovecraftian dishes with cruel, empty eyes staring back at us.

A hopeless Russian literature and fairy tale fanatic for as long as I can remember, my dream of receiving the nerdiest education possible began in Bologna – one of the oldest universities in the world – where I earned my BA in Modern Languages. After several fascinating exchange programs in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and London, my academic journey culminated with my MPhil in Russian Studies at the University of Cambridge – the closest you can get to Hogwarts in real life. Following a string of square jobs that left me exhausted, bored, and uninspired, I decided to finally pursue a filmmaking career and completed professional training in directing at the Raindance Film School in London.

In 2010, I founded Kalifilm Productions – an indie brand dedicated to producing compelling and thought-provoking content from music videos to documentaries and experimental shorts. Since then, it’s been a rollercoaster ride of guerrilla shoots in abandoned hospitals, red carpet ceremonies at film festivals, meeting and collaborating with crazy talented people from all over the world, and never failing to deliver memorable, powerful, award-winning audiovisual art.

In 2022, I released my debut feature “Lost in the City” – a poignant drama with splashes of dark comedy that follows the journey of a deranged homeless man struggling for survival on the unforgiving streets of Berlin. Despite being made independently by a volunteer crew on a budget of 6000 euros, “Lost in the City” went on to win awards at multiple festivals and gain DVD, BluRay, and online distribution on a variety of platforms including Amazon Prime, Tubi, Xumo, and Vudu by Fandango. It was an intense experience, nothing short of a miracle, that served as an essential launching pad for the development of my next, more ambitious screenplays spanning genres as diverse as road movie, supernatural horror, and sci-fi.

In parallel with my filmmaking career, I became a certified life coach, NLP practitioner, and holistic therapist. I started coaching and mentoring fellow creatives on the path to leading more productive, happy, and successful lives. It is an honor for me to give back to the community and share what I have learned so far, both through my own experience and by studying hundreds of books on spirituality, psychology, mindset, and conscious creation.

In 2024, I was honored to win the Distinctly Independent Fellowship at Writers Bootcamp and will be attending their screenwriting mentorship program starting on July 27th, developing my project from idea through three drafts over the 10-week process.

I am very excited to start the next chapter in my journey because I believe that cinematic art can help bring forth a new stage of consciousness – a true “Renaissance of Beauty” in a world that needs beauty like never before.

PORTFOLIO & AWARDS

Lost in the City // Feature Film, Drama // Release Date: 20 October 2022 @ PunkFilmFest Berlin // WINNER OF THE BEST OPERA PRIMA, BEST FEMALE DIRECTOR AND BEST LEAD ACTOR (FEATURE FILM) AWARDS AT FIVE CONTINENTS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL FEBRUARY 2023, WINNER OF BEST FEATURE AT LIFT-OFF GLOBAL NETWORK SESSIONS NOVEMBER 2022, WINNER OF THE BEST BLACK AND WHITE FILM AWARD AT CANNES WORLD FILM FESTIVAL AUGUST 2022, WINNER OF THE GOLDEN BUTTERFLY AWARD FOR BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE FILM AT NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL 2022, WINNER OF THE BEST ACTOR (LA PRIMA COSA BELLA INTERNATIONAL) AWARD AT ASTI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2022, WINNER OF THE BEST ACTING AWARD AT SEOUL INTERNATIONAL MONTHLY FILM FESTIVAL OCTOBER 2022, WINNER OF THE BEST ACTOR AWARD AT CINEMATIC EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL JULY-OCTOBER 2022, WINNER OF THE BEST ACTOR AWARD AT SEA OF ART INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 2022, WINNER OF THE BEST ACTOR (FEATURE FILM) AWARD AT 1st MONTHLY FILM FESTIVAL AUGUST 2022, WINNER OF THE BEST ACTOR (FEATURE FILM) AWARD AT SWEDEN FILM AWARDS AUGUST 2022, WINNER OF THE BEST ACTOR AWARD AT PARADISE FILM FESTIVAL AUGUST 2022, WINNER OF THE BEST ACTOR AWARD AT ART STREAM INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL JULY-AUGUST 2022, WINNER OF THE BEST ACTOR AWARD AT BRILLIANT INDIE FILM AWARDS 2022, WINNER OF THE BEST LEADING ACTOR AWARD AT ACCOLADE GLOBAL FILM COMPETITION AUGUST 2022, HONORABLE MENTION AT ATHENS INTERNATIONAL MONTHLY ART FILM FESTIVAL 2022, HONORABLE MENTION AT LONDON INTERNATIONAL MONTHLY FILM FESTIVAL 2022, NOMINATED FOR BEST ACTOR AT GOLDEN NUGGET INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2022, FINALIST AT INTERNATIONAL WOMEN FILMMAKERS FESTIVAL 2023, FINALIST AT TBAE FILM SHOWCASE 2022, FINALIST AT BODEN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL AUGUST 2022 // OFFICIAL SELECTION AT: HOLLYWOOD’S FIRST-TIME FILMMAKER SHOWCASE LIFT-OFF 2023, KALAKARI FILM FESTIVAL 2023, INTERNATIONAL WORLD FILM AWARDS 2023, DMV INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2022, BAHIA INDEPENDENT CINEMA FESTIVAL 2022, ORLANDO FILM FESTIVAL 2022, PUNKFILMFEST BERLIN 2022, CIUDAD DEL ESTE INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL 2022, YOUNG FILM MARKET BY SOCIAL WORLD FILM FESTIVAL 2022 // Currently Available on Amazon Prime, Xumo and Tubi

Tokyo 2021 // Music Video // Client: 国際通り International Road // Release Date: 23 July 2021 // FINALIST AT NEAR NAZARETH FESTIVAL 2021 // OFFICIAL SELECTION AT GOA SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2021

Ik breng de wijnen // Music Video // Client: 国際通り International Road // Release Date: 14 July 2021 // FINALIST AT AMARCORT FILM FESTIVAL 2021, FINALIST AT BALIWOOD BALI WORLD INDEPENDENT SHORT FILM AWARDS 2021 // OFFICIAL SELECTION AT FILMFEST BY ROGUE DANCER FEBRUARY 2024

Betra ástand // Music Video // Client: 国際通り International Road // Release Date: 26 May 2021 // NOMINATED FOR BEST MUSIC VIDEO IN THE ELECTRONICA CATEGORY AT NINJA INDIES MUSIC AWARDS 2022 // OFFICIAL SELECTION AT: AUSTIN LIFT-OFF FILM FESTIVAL 2022, VARESE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2021

Matched Hearts // Music Video // Client: Shehzad Bhanji feat. T. Julliet // Release Date: 18 October 2019
Black Violet // Music Video // Client: Novi // Release Date: 16 August 2019 // OFFICIAL SELECTION AT SHORT TO THE POINT FILM FESTIVAL 2019

Goldfish Memory // Music Video // Client: Novi // Release Date: 14 June 2019 // WINNER OF THE BEST FEMALE DIRECTOR OF THE MONTH AWARD AT DIRECT MONTHLY ONLINE FILM FESTIVAL JULY 2019, NOMINATED FOR BEST MUSIC VIDEO AT: VÄSTERÅS FILMFESTIVAL 2019, IDLEWILD INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2019 // OFFICIAL SELECTION AT: RED FINCH FILM FESTIVAL 2020, NEW YORK STATE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2019, WESTFIELD INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2019, LEICESTER FILM FESTIVAL 2019, APHRODITE FILM AWARDS 2019, INDIE VISIONS FILM FESTIVAL 2019, FEMALE FILMMAKERS FESTIVAL BERLIN 2019

Totipotent // Music Documentary // Client: Blake Day // Release Date: 04 January 2019 // OFFICIAL SELECTION AT AUDIO SHOOT UNSIGNED INTERNATIONAL MUSIC VIDEO & FILM FESTIVAL 2019

Falcong // Short Film, Documentary // Release Date: 9 February 2018 @ FECIME Festival Cinematográfico de Mérida // WINNER OF THE SPECIAL MENTION FILM ON NATURE AWARD AT WHITE UNICORN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2019, WINNER OF THE DOKUFILMPREIS AWARD AT FILMZEIT KAUFBEUREN 2018 // OFFICIAL SELECTION AT: DILI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2022, AMSTERDAM LIFT-OFF ONLINE FESTIVAL 2018, THE EARTH DAY FILM FESTIVAL 2018, GLOBAL INDIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2018, CHAMBAL INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2018, FECIME FESTIVAL CINEMATOGRÁFICO DE MÉRIDA 2018 // Currently Available on Amazon Prime and Vimeo On Demand

Die Täuschung (Deception) // Showreel Film, Film Noir // Client: Tzena Nicole // Release Date: 26 October 2017

Mingler // Showreel Film, Comedy // Client: Tzena Nicole // Release Date: 20 October 2017

Handvoll Dreck // Music Video // Client: Real Jay (Prod. by Brisk Fingaz & Killa M.) // Release Date: 21 May 2017

Grand Masquerade // Music Video // Client: The Trouble Notes // Release Date: 01 March 2017 // OFFICIAL SELECTION AT: UPPSALA INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2017, TWIN PEAKS UK FESTIVAL 2017

Lena & Ben // Showreel Film, Drama // Client: Agnieszka Paschke // Release Date: 11 February 2016
The Trouble Notes present The Prologue ft. Berlin Boyz // Music Video // Client: The Trouble Notes // Release Date: 05 November 2015

Lulladie // Music Video // Client: Blake Day & Natalie MacMahon // Release Date: 10 July 2015 // SEMI-FINALIST AT LOS ANGELES CINEFEST 2016, SEMI-FINALIST IN THE INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITING COMPETITION 2015 IN THE MUSIC VIDEO CATEGORY // OFFICIAL SELECTION AT: BERLIN SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2016, TRACCE CINEMATOGRAFICHE FILM FEST 2016, FINOW FILM FESTIVAL 2016, CENTRAL INDIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2016, ROFFEKE ROCK 'N' ROLL FILM FESTIVAL KENYA 2016

The Making of Lulladie // Music Documentary // Client: Blake Day // Release Date: 10 July 2015 // OFFICIAL SELECTION AT ROFFEKE ROCK 'N' ROLL FILM FESTIVAL KENYA 2016

Utopia // Music Video // Client: The Last Hour // Release Date: 21 December 2013 // OFFICIAL SELECTION AT: RINCON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2014, BERLIN INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL 2014

Hard Times // Music Video // Client: Double Zero // Release Date: 21 August 2013

Wednesday Roses // Commercial // Client: Johanna Hehir // Release Date: 9 April 2014

Mr Hater Show // Web Series, Satire - 7 Episodes // Release Date: 14 April 2013

Villa Martina B&B - Need A Break? // Commercial // Client: Villa Martina Bed & Breakfast // Release Date: 28 September 2012

Sei Solo Tu // Music Video // Client: Marco Santilli // Release Date: 4 May 2012

Five Past Ten // Music Video // Client: Nico Greco // Release Date: 28 February 2012 // OFFICIAL SELECTION AT: COLUMBIA GORGE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2014, NEW HOPE FILM FESTIVAL 2014, LONDON INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL 2014, BARE BONES INTERNATIONAL FILM & MUSIC FESTIVAL 2014, BERLIN INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL 2014, ART IN THE DUNES 2013 VASTO, EDINBURGH SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2013, (CON)FUSIONI 2013 LANCIANO

Bohemian Wedding // Commercial // Release Date: 12 December 2011

Mirages // Short Film, Experimental // Release Date: 9 March 2012 @ Uptown / Detroit Independent Film Festival 2012 // WINNER OF THE BEST ART ON WALL AWARD AT NEW MEDIA FILM FESTIVAL 2012 LOS ANGELES, WINNER OF THE BEST EXPERIMENTAL AWARD AT THE UPTOWN / DETROIT INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL 2012 // OFFICIAL SELECTION AT: ART IN THE DUNES 2012 VASTO, EDINBURGH SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 2012, (CON)FUSIONI 2012 LANCIANO, NEWFILMMAKERS NEW YORK SPRING SERIES 2012
D.I.V.A. // Video Art // Client: Antje Palka // Release Date: 21 May 2011 @ New Media Film Festival 2011 Los Angeles // OFFICIAL SELECTION AT: MUJERES DEL CINE 2013 GRANADA, TWEET ME UP! AT THE TATE MODERN LONDON 2012, WHO ART YOU? 2012 MILAN, BIDEODROMO 2011 BILBAO, NEW MEDIA FILM FESTIVAL 2011 LOS ANGELES

L’Amore Non Cambia // Music Video // Client: Marco Santilli // Release Date: 27 January 2011 // OFFICIAL SELECTION AT: INTERNATIONAL CRIME & PUNISHMENT FILM FESTIVAL 2011 ISTANBUL, NEW MEDIA FILM FESTIVAL 2011 SAN FRANCISCO

My Will To Live // Music Video // Client: Nico Greco // Release Date: 29 August 2010 // WINNER OF THE BEST MUSIC VIDEO AUDIENCE AWARD AT THE FREESTYLE LIFE FILM EXHIBITION 2012 // OFFICIAL SELECTION AT: VEGAS CINE FEST 2012, COLUMBIA GORGE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2012, LONG ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM EXPO 2012, RINCON INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 2012

Delphina // Short Film, Dark Comedy // Release Date: 9 July 2010 // WINNER OF THE TALENTI DI VASTO AWARD AT VASTO FILM FESTIVAL 2010 // OFFICIAL SELECTION AT INTERNATIONAL CRIME & PUNISHMENT FILM FESTIVAL 2011 ISTANBUL